Curb and gutter formers



Oct. 29, 1963 J. OCONNOR, JR 3,108,518

CURB AND GUTTER FORMERS Filed June 27, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

INVENTOR James 0 Connor, Jr.

WWW/1% ATTORNEYS Oct. 29, 1963 J. OCONNOR, JR 8 I cums AND GUTTER FORMERS Filed June 27, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 X /A fix W x W/X W/ W V) V Fig. 5

3 Y Mm James O'Connor, Jr

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,108,518 CURB AND GUTTER FORMERS James OConnor, J12, 5032 Thrush St, Dallas, Tex. Filed June 27, 1960, Ser. No. 39,001 2 Claims. (6!. 94-46) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in curb and gutter formers.

The invention is directed in particular to improved structures which may be drawn behind concrete trucks, in particular transit-mix type concrete trucks, or other conveyances for paving or surfacing material, and which will receive such surfacing material directly from the truck and form it into a street curb and gutter in a single and continuous operation, thus greatly reducing the time required for shaping and finishing the curb and gutter and correspondingly reducing the cost or expense thereof.

It is an important object of the invention to provide an improved curb and gutter forming structure so constructed that it may be drawn along a pair of spaced form members of the conventional type to deposit and shape between the forms a substantially finished curb and gutter, and which is also so constructed and arranged as to utilize the mass of the surfacing material being deposited as a means for holding the forming structure in position while effectively directing the surfacing material into the desired contours and compacting said material in such configuration.

An additional important object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having unique provisions for passing increased quantities of the surfacing material into the area representing the curb section Wherein greater quantities of such surfacing material are ultimately required.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved curb and gutter forming structure having therein a hopper for receiving surfacing material such as concrete, the hopper having downwardly converging bottom walls for utilizing the mass of the surfacing material for holding the forming structure in proper operating position, the rearward bottom wall of the hopper being more nearly horizontal than the forward bottom wall.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character described having a forming member or plate underlying the rearward portion of the hopper, the rearward portion of the forming member being disposed in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the forming structure for properly shaping and compacting the surfacing material into the desired configuration, the forward portion of the forming member being inclined upwardly for receiving, feeding, and directing the surfacing material into position for shaping and compacting by the rearward portion of the forming member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character described having unique means for positively and securely positioning the former supporting means, such as wheels, at a selected elevational position.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having unique means for maintaining the upper surfaces of the forms free of foreign materials, and also having unique handles or other lifting means, along with means for maintaining the supporting means, such as wheels, also free of foreign material.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character described which compacts the surfacing material into a solid mass substantially free of voids or honeycomb while at the same time obtaining the desired configuration.

Other and more particular objects of the invention will 3,1 @8 ,5 l 8 Patented Oct. 29, 1 963 be apparent from a reading of the following description, the claims appended thereto, and the drawings of the disclosure.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein examples of the invention are shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a curb and gutter former constructed in accordance with this invention in operating position upon the upper edges of a pair of spaced forms and secured to a concrete truck or other conveyance for transporting surfacing material,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the curb and gutter former, the view being partially broken away to illustrate the structure in use for the purpose of distributing sand or other bedding material prior to the placing of the surfacing material thereon, a

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the forward end of the curb and gutter former,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device,

FIG. 5 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional View taken upon the line 5-5 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a vertical, cross-sectional View taken upon the line 66 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the rearward portion of the hopper.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a curb and gutter former constructed in accordance with this invention. As shown in FlG. 1, the former 10 is adapted to ride upon a pair of spaced, parallel forms 11 and 12, the form 12 which adjoins the curb section having its upper edge disposed at a higher elevation than the upper edge of the form 11 which adjoins the gutter section. A concrete truck 13 or other conveyance for surfacing materials, supplies premixed concrete or other surface material 14 to the former 1t) and draws the former along over the upper edges of the forms 11 and 12 by means of a short length of cable or chain 15 extending from the rearward portion of the conveyance 13 and having its rearward end connected to a suitable hook or other attachment member 16 positioned upon the forward end of the former 10.

The former It includes a rectangular box like body 10' having an open top and bottom and opposed side walls 17 and 18, respectively. The body is also formed with a forward end wall 19 and a rearward end wall 20. Lengths of reinforcing angle iron 21 completely surround the open upper end of the former body, and lengths of similar reinforcing angle iron 22 extend longitudinally of the lower edges of the side walls 17 and 18. Wheels for movably supporting the former body upon the upper edges of the forms 11 and 12 are provided at each end of the body and secured thereto by vertically adjustable mounting means. The wheel structures at each end of the former body are substantially identical, and only one thereof will be described, the same numerals being applied to both wheel assemblies. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, each of the Wheel assemblies includes a transverse I-section member 23 extending horizontally across the end of the former body and having secured to each end thereof a pair of vertical, depending, I-section legs 24 and 25, respectively. The leg 24 is adjacent the higher form 12 and is formed at its upper end with a vertical slot 25 through which a bolt 26 extends into screwtln'eaded engagernent with an apertured pad 27 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the front wall 19 of the former body. A spacing block 27' is welded or otherwise secured to the lower end of the leg 24, a slot 28 extending through the block 27 and the web of the leg 24 into screw-threaded engagement with an apertured block 29 also welded or otherwise suitably secured to the lower portion of the front wall 19. The leg 25, adjacent the lower form 11, is also slotted at its upper end at 30 to receive a bolt 31 extending through the slot 30 into screwthreaded engagement with an apertured block 32 secured to the front wall of the former body, similarly to the pad 27. A spacer or mounting block 33 is secured to the forward surface of the lower end of the leg 25, a slot 34 extending through the pad 33 and the web of the leg 25 for reception of a screw-threaded bolt 35 engaging an apertured block 36 secured to the lower portion of the front wall 19 of the former body closely above the upper edge of the form 11.

An angular bracket 37 is welded or secured to the central upper portion of the front wall 19, a bolt 38 extending through the projecting leg of the bracket 37, through a plurality of removable shim members or plates 39 and the central portion of the transverse member 23 for positively and immovably securing the wheel mounting assembly in a selected position of vertical adjustment accordance with the number and thickness of the shims 39. The pairs of securing bolts for each of the legs 24 and 25 extending through the slots therein, it is quite apparent that these securing bolts may be loosened slightly and the bolt 38 loosened or removed in order to increase or decrease the number or thickness of the shims 39, after which the bolt 38 may again be tightened to lock the wheel mounting assembly positively into a selected and carefully adjusted vertical position. Then the securing bolts for the legs 24 and 25 may again be tightened, the securing bolt staking the brunt of the load while the bolt 38 ensures positive vertical positioning of the assembly.

A stub axle 40 is secured to the mounting plate or pad 27, extending laterally therefrom and receiving a double flanged wheel 41 which rides upon the upper edge of the form 12. Similarly, a stub axle 42 is secured to the mounting pad 33 and carries a single flanged wheel 43, the single flange being disposed upon the inner periphery or edge of the wheel. The wheel 43, of course, is adapted to ride upon the upper edge of the lower form 11. Each of the legs 24 and 25 also carries secured thereto an angle section 44 projecting laterally over the wheels 41 and 43 and having their outer ends notched as shown at 45 for receiving the inner flanges of the wheels and extending downwardly into close adjacency to the tread thereof for scraping accumulations of surfacing material or other material from the treads and ensuring that the wheels remain clean for accurate and positive engagement with the upper edges of the forms 11 and 12.

For wiping and cleaning the upper edges of the forms 111 and 12, the former box or body carries at each of its four corners a short angular clip 46 projecting laterally from the body over the upper edges of the forms 111 and 12 and having secured thereto a flexible wiping element 47 which engages and wipes the upper edges of the forms 11 and 12 when the wheels are in engagement therewith.

in order that the curb and gutter former assembly may be lifted and handled manually, there are mounted at the upper end and at each side of both the front and back walls 19 and 20, short, horizontally disposed tubular sleeves or housings 48, welded or otherwise secured to the end walls, and having slidably positioned therein lengths of rod 49 which normally are retracted toward the center axis of the former body, as shown in FIG. 3, so as not to project laterally therefrom and so as to be completely withdrawn from any position impairing the operation of the structure. When it is desired to move or lift the assembly, the rods 49 may be moved horizontally through the sleeves 48 to project laterally from the assembly as shown in dotted lines in :FIG. 3, in which position the rods 49 function as handles which may be grasped for lifting the structure. Thus, the structure is readily moved onto or off of the upper edges of the forms 11 and L12,

4; placed in trucks or other vehicles, and otherwise readily handled.

Within the body 10' of the forming structure there is provided a hopper which includes a rearward hopper bottom plate 50 extending forwardly and downwardly from a point near the upper edge of the rear end wall 20 and terminates in a forwardly directed, rounded nose portion 51. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the forward edge of the plate 50 is swept back slightly toward the side wall 117 so as to incline that portion of the nose 51 which overlies the gutter section slightly upwardly toward the side wall 17. The portion of the plate 50 adjacent the side wall 18 and which overlies the curb area is cut away or recessed toward the rearward wall 20, as indicated at 52, and the nose portion 51 correspondingly shaped to conform to the outline of the forward edge of the plate 50. A forming member 53 under lies the rearward hopper bottom 50 and has its rearward and major portion disposed in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the forming structure. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the forming member 53 is provided with an upset portion 54 conforming to the crosssection of the curb being formed, and a slightly upwardly inclined section 55 adjoining the side wall 17 and overlying the gutter portion. The forward end of the forming member 53 is inclined forwardly and upwardly asshown at 56 to merge into the rounded nose portion 51 and, of course, is formed with gutter and curb shaping portions corresponding to the similar portions of the forming members 53 and the nose portion 51.

A forward hopper bottom plate 57 extends rearwardly and downwardly from a point near the upper edge of the forward end wall 19, being inclined at a somewhat greater angle than the rearward bottom member 50 and carrying a preliminary forming member 58 extending from its rearward and lower edge forwardly to the forward end wall .19. As shown at 59 in FIG. 4, the forward bottom plate 57 is cut away or recessed overlying the curb port-ion similarly to the cut away portion 52 of the plate 50, and the preliminary forming member 58 is correspondingly shaped as shown in FIG. 3. Of course, the forward and rearward end walls 19 and 20 are also cut away or recessed to conform to the curb and gutter being shaped by the subject structure. Internal gusset plates 59 and 60 furnish reinforcing for the rearward and forward hopper bottoms 50 and 57, respectively.

It is to be noted that the forward edge of the plate 50 and the rearward edge of the plate 57 form an open flow space 61 extending downwardly from the hopper and through which surfacing material may be discharged. It is also to be noted that the cut away portions 52 and 59 result in a local increasing of the cross-sectional area of the flow space 61 in order that the greater quantities of concrete or other material required for forming the curb may more readily flow downwardly from the hopper so that the overall fiow opening 61 is so proportioned as to provide for varying rates of flow of surfacing material downwardly from the hopper in accordance with the requirements of the structure being formed. Thus, there is a considerably increased flow space for concrete flowing to the curb area, while the flow space for concrete flowing to the gutter area is slightly divergent toward the side wall .17 to provide for the slightly increased quantities of concrete or other surfacing material required adjacent to the form 111 as contrasted to that required at the point of juncture of the curb and gutter. This is very important and results in a smooth and even, substantially vertical, flow of concrete or other material directly to the points at which material is needed and in accordance with the quantity of such material needed whereby virtually all lateral flow of the surfacing material is avoided. In this manner, the material is deposited at the point needed and only further compaction and shaping by the curb and gutter former is required. It is to be noted, however, that the mass of surfacing material present in the hopper in and of itself causes the material to be applied in an initially compacted mass so that further compaction is minimized, and primarily only a shaping and surfacing function is carried out.

On occasion, tt may be desirable to utilize the forming structure of this invention for the purpose of spreading and compacting a foundation bed of sand or other suitable material between the forms 1 1 and 12 before the concrete or other surfacing material is introduced thereinto. Accordingly, the plate 50 is provided with a plurality of spaced bolt openings 61 for receiving bolts 62 by which a flat scraper blade or plate 63 may be secured to the upper surface of the rearward bottom wall Stl of the hopper. The forward edge of the blade 63 extends downwardly through the flow space 61 into a plane closely adjacent the bottom edges of the forms .111 and 12, and as the structure is moved along the forms with the blade in place, sand or other material is smoothed and leveled into a thin bed or layer as shown in FIG. 2. The sand may be placed in the hopper or may be placed between the forms to flow upwardly over the blade as the forming structure is advanced and to return downwardly through the flow space from the hopper as required for forma tion of the foundation bed. Of course, the forward edge of the blade 63 may be shaped or contoured as desired. Again, the mass of the sand or other material present in the hopper results in a marked compacting of the foundation bed. In addition, the plate 63 may be employed as a scraper or foundation shaper.

In the operation of the curb and gutter forming structure, assuming a suitable sand bed or other foundation bed has already been placed between the forms ll and 12, the forming structure is positioned upon the upper edges of the forms and the wheels adjusted vertically for proper alinement of the bottom faces of the forming members '53 and 58 with the upper edges of the forms. Normally, such alinement involves horizontal registration between the upper edges of the forms and the undersides of the forming members, and in this connection, it is noted that the wheel supporting assembly may be tilted or canted slightly at an angle by the insertion of shims on one side or the other of the adjustment bolt 38.

The forming structure is then secured to the rearward end of the truck 13 and the delivery chute 64 of the truck moved into vertical alinement with the open upper end of the hopper. Now, as the vehicle d3 is moved forwardly and surfacing material delivered into the hopper, it is quickly and readily shaped into the desired curb and gutter configuration. For the purpose of facilitating this operation by controlling the rate of flow of the surfacing material, as well as adding desirable weight to the rearward portion of the forming structure, a platform 65 pro jects rearwardl-y from the rearward end wall 20 and is of such shape and dimensions that a workman may stand thereon for ready access to the controls for the delivery chute 64 as well as continuous observation and inspection of the work being carried out.

.The hopper will be maintained nearly full of surfacing material at all times, as shown in FIG. 5, and although there will be some tendency for the forming structure to be lifted as the material flows under the plate 58 and under the plate 53, such lifting tendency will be largely offset due to the mass of concrete or other material present in the hopper and its downward thrust upon the plates 50 and 57. The plate 50 being inclined at a smaller angle with respect to the horizontal than the plate 57, the greater part of this downward thrust will there fore be delivered to the rearward portion of the forming structure to press it securely down upon the upper edges of the forms and insure proper sizing, shaping and compacting of the completed curb and gutter. There is a tendency for the inclined portion 56, as well as the forming member 53, to cause the structure to ride upwardly as it advances forwardly, but this will be overcome by the weight of the material present in the hopper, the lesser inclination of the rearward plate 50 concentrating the force of this mass or weight in the rearward portion of the structure.

Some of the concrete or other material will, of course, flow forwardly beneath the plate 58, and due to the cut out portion 59 :of the plate 57, there will be an initial directing of the material into the curb area in greater quantities than to the gutter area. This action is continued by the rearward bottom '50 of the hopper, the cut out portion 52 directing increased quantities of the material to the curb area in order that the material may be forced downwardly and compacted initially by the nose portion 51 as well as the inclined portion 56, the further smoothing and compacting being carried out by the forming member 53. Thus, it is to be noted that the concrete or other material is not required to move laterally within the hopper or beneath the various forming plates, but instead, is directed initially in the desired quantities to the desired locations, permitting the rounded nose 51 to cut smoothly therethrough and requiring the inclined section 56 and and plate 5-3 to carry out a minimum of moving of the material, restricting the action largely to compacting and smoothing. This not only avoids the possibility of voids or empty spaces in the finished curb and gutter, but it adds greatly to the lateral stability of the forming structure, permitting the mass of material in the hopper to be u-ilized almost exclusively for shaping and smoothing. The forward bottom wall 57 of the hopper is inclined sufliciently to hold the forward end of the forming structure in engagement with the upper edges of the forms 11 and 12, the lesser inclination of the rearward plate 50 making available more thrust or mass at the rearward portion of the unit where there will be observed a greater tendency for the unit to ride upwardly. This coupled with the weight of the workman standing on the platform 65 ensures proper and trouble free operation.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A curb and gutter former including, a hopper for receiving fiowable material having forward and rearward portions, form-engaging means supporting the hopper, a rearward wall for the hopper having a substantially flat upper surface inclined rearwardly and upwardly with respect to the horizontal, a forward wall for the hopper having a substantially flat upper surface inclined forwardly and upwardly with respect to the horizontal, a first member shaped to form a curb and gutter and extending rearwardly beneath the rearward wall of the hopper, the forward portion of the first member being inclined forwardly and upwardly and joining the forward edge of the rearward wall of the hopper to form an inclined compacting portion, the curb-forming portion of the first member and its compacting portion and the portion of the rearward member adjoining thereto being recessed rearwardly to provide increased flow space downwardly from the hopper, a second member shaped to form at least approximately a curb and gutter and extending forwardly beneath the forward wall of the hopper, the rearward portion of the second member joining the lower edge of the forward wall of the hopper, and the curb-forming portion of the second member and the portion of the forward wall of the hopper adjoining thereto being recessed forwardly to provide increased flow space downwardly from the hopper, the increased flow spaces provided by the recessed portions being opposed and coacting to accommodate a greater flow of the material to form the curb without imparting appreciable lateral movement to the material.

2. A curb and gutter former as set forth in claim 1 What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patents- '5' wherein the forward wall has a greater inclination to the horizontal than the rearward wall of the hopper so as to concentrate the Weight of the material in the hopper at the rearward portion of the curb and gutter former and resist the tendency of the same to ride upwardly as it advances forwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Noble Dec. 27, 1921 Clark Dec. 18, 1934 Born June 18, 1935 Hadley July 28, 1936 Little Dec. 7, 1937 Day July 19, 1938 Oswald Oct. 6, 1942 Canfield May 3, 1955 Kadlec Mar. 15, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 28, 1952 

1. A CURB AND GUTTER FORMER INCLUDING, A HOPPER FOR RECEIVING FLOWABLE MATERIAL HAVING FORWARD AND REARWARD PORTIONS, FORM-ENGAGING MEANS SUPPORTING THE HOPPER, A REARWARD WALL FOR THE HOPPER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT UPPER SURFACE INCLINED REARWARDLY AND UPWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO THE HORIZONTAL, A FORWARD WALL FOR THE HOPPER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT UPPER SURFACE INCLINED FORWARDLY AND UPWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO THE HORIZONTAL, A FIRST MEMBER SHAPED TO FORM A CURB AND GUTTER AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY BENEATH THE REARWARD WALL OF THE HOPPER, THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE FIRST MEMBER BEING INCLINED FORWARDLY AND UPWARDLY AND JOINING THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE REARWARD WALL OF THE HOPPER TO FORM AN INCLINED COMPACTING PORTION, THE CURB-FORMING PORTION OF THE FIRST MEMBER AND ITS COMPACTING PORTION AND THE PORTION OF THE REARWARD MEMBER ADJOINING THERETO BEING RECESSED REARWARDLY TO PROVIDE INCREASED FLOW SPACE DOWNWARDLY FROM THE HOPPER, A SECOND MEMBER SHAPED TO FORM AT LEAST APPROXIMATELY A CURB AND GUTTER AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY BENEATH THE FORWARD WALL OF THE HOPPER, THE REARWARD PORTION OF THE SECOND MEMBER JOINING THE LOWER EDGE OF THE FORWARD WALL OF THE HOPPER, AND THE CURB-FORMING PORTION OF THE SECOND MEMBER AND THE PORTION OF THE FORWARD WALL OF THE HOPPER ADJOINING THERETO BEING RECESSED FORWARDLY TO PROVIDE INCREASED FLOW SPACE DOWNWARDLY FROM THE HOPPER, THE INCREASED FLOW SPACES PROVIDED BY THE RECESSES PORTIONS BEING OPPOSED AND COACTING TO ACCOMMODATE A GREATER FLOW OF THE MATERIAL TO FORM THE CURB WITHOUT IMPARTING APPRECIABLE LATERAL MOVEMENT TO THE MATERIAL. 